It must be Christmas time!

I have not been too busy to walk, only too busy to post to my blog. Since the weather has turned colder I have made several trips to Tanglewood for walks. There a many new stores including some favorites from last year like Crystal Cottage, Planet Wear, Tomorrow's Treasures, Aren't You Special, and Hickory Farms. Ah yes, nothing says it's Christmas time like a beef stick! The entire mall has been decorated and it's great to see the looks on children's faces when they walk by. Next week there will be entertainment provided in front of Penney's. Be sure to come out on Tuesday, Dec. 8th at 6 PM to hear the festive music of the Star City Sounds a cappela choral group. They rock!

There are also some new stores like Tailgaters United, Grunters, Starz movies, and a cell phone accessory store.

There are lots of good bargains to be had and don't forget to say Hi to Santa. Ho, ho, ho!

Crisp air

Is there anything better than cool, crisp air to announce that fall is here? The trees along the greenway at Wasena are starting to change and I'm anxious to see how vibrant the colors will be this year.

I noticed a survey team on the bridge near Smith Park spraying orange paint. Looks like construction will be starting soon.

I have seen a Blue Heron in it's usual place and I wonder if it will be flying south for the winter.

I have been able to walk outdoors several times this week and have always seen other folks along the way. I always enjoy exchanging "Hello"s and collecting smiles.

The Summer That Wasn't

Trips outdoors for walking have been limited this summer. I have opted for the cool air inside the mall instead of suffering in the humidity. But it seems like this has been one of the coolest summers I can remember in a very long time. With all the talk about the depressed economy I wasn't surprised to notice all of the closed stores at Tanglewood. Then I decided to go to Valley View Mall and was very surprised to see a big difference in the number of shoppers. They too have their share of closed stores. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate shop must not have been able to sell enough of their $8 caramel apples to remain open. I've seen signs for a new shoe store that is currently occupying temporary space and that's an encouraging sign to me. Even though the number of stores at Tanglewood has been declining, the number of mall walkers has increased. Perhaps folks are becoming more self-conscious about the health benefits of walking. I certainly hope so.

Several trips to the river walk were cut short when I discovered that the path was flooded or covered with too much debris to walk through. Where exactly is the "control" in the flood control project?

I have spent many hours this summer learning about stock market trading and, although it mean less time to post, I have really enjoyed it. Of course, I would rather be walking.

Alive and kicking!

Who says "the mall is dead"? Tanglewood had quite a few shoppers as I completed my walk on Thursday just after noon. There was a sales event being held in the former Waldenbooks storefront that was drawing a lot of shoppers - Equestrian Exchange. Apparently this is a traveling consignment show that makes the rounds in Virginia and North Carolina. If you have any spurs or chaps you need to get rid of, check out their site at EquestrianExchange.com.

A note in the window of another recently opened store that sells trading cards indicated that there is a new baby boy in the world. Congrats to the proud Mom and Dad!

Hopefully the weather will cooperated this week so I can get to some Sox games in Salem. I hear that the team is having trouble winning at home. I'll have to see if I can cheer them on to victory. I really enjoy watching the games in our beautiful stadium. Whether it's for baseball or just being outdoors, come and support our local team and escape the daily routine for a few hours of fun and relaxation. See you there!

Cleanup on Aisle 5..

Today's cloud cover provided for just the right temperature for a comfortable river walk. Last week's accumulation of debris from the river flooding has been removed and the finishing touches of sweeping away the mud on the roadway was being completed this morning. There were several fishermen and even someone that was fly-fishing. It's always interesting to see the different types of fishermen as indicated by their garb, their poles, their equipment, and ultimately the number of fish on their stringers. Yesterday I passed someone who looked like he just stepped out of an Orvis catalog - coordinated pants, boots, vest, and hat. This man may not have caught a thing, but he sure looked the part. This is in contrast to the man that I saw a few days ago who asked to use my cell phone so he could call a cab. He looked a little scruffy in his ballcap, tee shirt, shorts and sneakers and the only way you would guess he was a fisherman is the stringer he proudly held containing the allowable catch limit. He told me that he didn't have a car but he loved to fish so he was willing to spring for the cab fare. Yep, cab fare - $30, stringer full of fish - priceless!

All consuming...

Can it be that almost a month has passed since my last post? Well, it's not that I haven't been walking as usual. I have been squeezing my walks into a much busier schedule. I have been attending classes and completing self-study related to stock market trading. Even though I have been involved in the stock market for years, I got out last October as many others did. I wanted to be better informed before entering the market again and I am very pleased with the education I have received thus far. There are many new techniques and tools that I was not aware of that can help the trader to become more successful and I am trying to take advantage of whatever information is available.

I have enjoyed many walks by the river and it seems that more and more people are getting out to do the same. The recent rainfall flooded both of the bridges so that my route had to be modified. It makes me wonder if the flood control project that was completed over the last couple of years still needs some tweaking.

The state of Tanglewood hasn't changed much. One walk that stands out is the day that I watched 3 young mothers walking the mall with their kids in tow. They would stop occasionally and do some exercises and then continue walking. At one point, near Penney's, they actually spread out some mats on the floor and were exercising while one of the toddlers was standing at the end of the escalator and daring the descending stair to catch the toe of his shoe. My heart was in my throat as his mother remained focused on her exercise routine instead of her child.

Today I enjoyed a wonderful brunch with my Mom, Dad, and husband at Horizon Bar & Grill in downtown Roanoke. The shrimp and grits was very flavorful and satisfying and the fried green tomatoes were very tasty. Our party of 8 was seated promptly and everyone enjoyed their meals. We then spent a couple of hours visiting and sharing a bottle of Cornucopia wine at the Valhalla Vinyard wine tasting room and enjoyed the spectacular view across the Roanoke Valley. Wow, what a day! Hope all of you mothers enjoyed your day. I sure did!

Muddy waters

It's nice to see the sun shining again in Roanoke. Wiley Drive was flooded with the recent rain and remained closed this morning. It was a fine, but breezy, walk this morning and the rushing waters have deposited a lot of debris near and on the bridge. It was good to get out after having spent a couple of days on my couch recovering from some sort of stomach bug. Although, I also walked the mall yesterday. The Easter Bunny garden is a big draw for the little ones passing by but I was too early to actually see the bunny for myself.

I guess that the mall management expects some of the empty stores to remain that way for some time as they have invested in custom made advertisement banners that are hanging in the entry of the former Goody's, Walden Books, and Stein Mart. There is a bright spot, however. A new store has opened to sell collectible trading cards and is also offering some sports related items. Good luck!